Sensor assembly and fixing method thereof

Abstract

A sensor assembly that is fixed to a fixing subject member includes a bracket that is fixed to a fixing subject member, a spacer that is attached to the bracket and contacts the fixing subject member, and a rotation sensor that is held by the bracket and is sandwiched between the spacer and the bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensor assembly that is fixed to a fixing subject member comprising:
 a bracket that is fixed to the fixing subject member, wherein the bracket comprises at least one side face having a hole; 
 a spacer that is attached to the bracket and contacts the fixing subject member; and 
 a rotation sensor that is held by the bracket and sandwiched between the spacer and the bracket, 
 wherein the spacer comprises:
 a projecting portion disposed on a first surface of the spacer that engages with the hole in the side face of the bracket such that there is a first clearance between the projecting portion of the spacer and the hole, and 
 a fitting portion disposed on a second surface of the spacer that projects into a fitting subject portion in the fixing subject member such that there is a second clearance between the fitting portion of the spacer and the fitting subject portion in the fixing subject member, and 
 
 wherein the second clearance is smaller than the first clearance. 
 
     
     
       2. A sensor assembly that is fixed to a fixing subject matter comprising:
 a bracket that is fixed to the fixing subject member and has a plurality of side faces; 
 a spacer that is attached to the bracket and contacts the fixing subject member; and 
 a rotation sensor that is held by the bracket, 
 wherein the rotation sensor comprising a body portion sandwiched between the spacer and the bracket and a detection portion protruding through a hole in the bracket such that there is a first clearance between the detection portion of the rotation sensor and the hole of the bracket, 
 wherein the rotation sensor further comprises a fitting portion protruding from the body portion, the fitting portion being fitted into a fitting subject portion of the spacer such that there is a second clearance between the fitting portion of the rotation sensor and the fitting subject portion of the spacer, and 
 wherein the second clearance is smaller than the first clearance between the detection portion of the rotation sensor and the first hole. 
 
     
     
       3. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises an aperture in a horizontal surface penetrated by a part of the rotation sensor such that there is a third clearance between the part of the rotation sensor and the aperture,
 wherein the rotation sensor comprises a fitting portion that is fitted into a fitting subject portion in the spacer such that there is a fourth clearance between the fitting portion of the rotation sensor and the fitting subject portion in the spacer, and 
 wherein the fourth clearance is smaller than the third clearance between the part of the rotation sensor and the aperture. 
 
     
     
       4. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation sensor comprises a body portion sandwiched between the spacer and the bracket and a detection portion protruding through an aperture of the bracket. 
     
     
       5. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the projecting portion of the spacer engages with the hole of the side face of the bracket upon deformation of the side face of the bracket. 
     
     
       6. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fixing subject member is a control valve attached to a surface opening of an automatic transmission. 
     
     
       7. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is formed of resin. 
     
     
       8. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side face of the bracket comprises a first side face and a second side face, the first and second side faces each having a hole, wherein the spacer comprises two projecting portions that engage with the holes in the first and second side faces. 
     
     
       9. The sensor assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the spacer comprises a projecting portion disposed on a surface of the spacer that opposes the at least one of the plurality of side faces of the bracket, and
 wherein the projecting portion of the spacer engages with a second hole in the at least one of the plurality of side faces of the bracket.